May 30th, 2010 
Arn Application fees for non-immigration machine-readable visas to the United States has been raised worldwide and will be collected starting June 4, the US embassy here said.
The increase in rates would “cover increasing costs of providing highest-quality service for the processing of nonimmigrant visas.”
According to the embassy, the new fee for tourist/business visas (B1/B2 category), seafarer/crew visas (C1/D), student visas (F), and exchange visitor visas (J) will be $140 or the equivalent in pesos; for work visas (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories), $150; for trader/investor visas (E), $390; for fiancé/spouse (K) visas will be $350; and all other nonimmigrant categories will be $140.
“Visa applicants with appointment interview dates on or after Friday, June 4, will be required to pay the new fees. Applicants with appointments before June 4 will pay for their visa fees at the current rate of $131,” it said.
However, all applicants with an interview date of June 4 or later must pay the new fee, even if they have already made an appointment and paid at the old rate of $131.
“The embassy requests that visa applicants who have already paid the fee of $131 for an appointment scheduled after June 4 pay for the difference in fees at the same bank branch where they made the initial $131 payment,” the embassy said.
“For instance, if you have already made a visa interview appointment for a tourist visa for Friday, June 4, and paid the fee of $131, you will need to pay the difference of $9 before arriving at the embassy on your appointment date. Applicants for other visa categories will need to pay the appropriate incremental fee difference.
“You will need to present both blue fee receipts when you arrive at the embassy (in this example, receipts for $131 and $9). You will not be allowed to enter the embassy for your interview unless the full fee has been paid.”
Those with more question about the new fees may visit this website.
The embassy also reminds the public that its consular section is in the process of converting to an online visa application form, known as the DS-160, to replace paper application forms.
The DS-160 is a form that has been in use at many other US embassies and consulates for several months. Please see the US embassy website for information about the DS-160 online application form and instructions.
Source: Inquirer.net
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